Transparent hard coat film

ABSTRACT

In a transparent hard coat film, in which a transparent hard coat layer is formed on at least one surface of a transparent polymer film, the transparent hard coat layer is composed of at least ionizing radiation curable organic-inorganic hybrid hard-coat agent and inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of 1-10 μm. The organic-inorganic hybrid hard-coat agent preferably contains reactive silica. Such a transparent hard coat film of the present invention has well-balanced anti-glare property and resolution and yet has hard coat property that is typically expressed by surface hardness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a transparent hard coat film. Inparticular, it relates to transparent hard coat film suitable for asurface member of various kinds of display devices such as liquidcrystal display devices, CRT displays, plasma displays, and EL displays.

RELATED ART

[0002] Conventionally, transparent hard coat films consisting of atransparent polymer film having a surface subjected to uneven treatmenthave been used on a screen of liquid displays or plasma displays inorder to protect the surface together with to prevent bad visibility dueto glare caused by reflected exterior light at the screen. For makingthe transparent polymer film surface uneven (rough), provision of atransparent hard coat layer including particles as a matting agent isgenerally employed (Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos.S61-209154, S64-51932, for example).

[0003] In such transparent hard coat films subjected to conventionaluneven treatment, however, it has been difficult to satisfy anti-glareproperty, good resolution and hard coat property in good balance. Forexample, in case of the aforementioned transparent hard coat layerincluding particles as a matting agent, the high content of theparticles causes increase of haze and thereby deterioration ofresolution, whereas the low content of the particles causes increase ofglossiness, deterioration of anti-glare property and therebydeterioration of visibility of displayed images. Use of particles havinga small diameter is effective for suppressing increase of haze andimproving resolution but the uneven surface is not easily produced andanti-glare property is deteriorated unless the hard coat layer is madethin. If the thickness of the hard coat layer is thin, a problem ofdeterioration of surface hardness arises. While making the thickness ofa hard coat layer thick is effective for imparting hard coat property,which is typically expressed by surface hardness, particles are embeddedin the layer and the uneven surface is not easily formed and anti-glareproperty is deteriorated.

[0004] Accordingly, there has been a strong demand for a transparenthard coat film, in which the aforementioned problems are solved, havingoptical properties satisfying well-balanced anti-glare property andresolution, and hard coat property.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide atransparent hard coat film having optical properties satisfyingwell-balanced anti-glare property and resolution, and hard coatproperty.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Inventors of the present invention conducted diligent studies toachieve the foregoing objects and found that when a particular materialis used for the material composing the hard coat layer, the foregoingobjects can be achieved. Thus, the present invention is completed.

[0007] Specifically, the present invention provide a transparent hardcoat film comprising a transparent hard coat layer formed on at leastone surface of a transparent polymer film, wherein the transparent hardcoat layer is consisting of at least ionizing radiation curableorganic-inorganic hybrid hard-coat agent and a matting agent includinginorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of 1-10 μm.

[0008] The organic-inorganic hybrid hard-coat agent is a material inwhich inorganic microparticles are highly uniformly dispersed in anorganic binder when it is made into a film, and which exhibitsproperties that cannot be obtained by films consisting of only organicbinder.

[0009] Further, a transparent hard coat film of the present invention ischaracterized in that the ionizing radiation curable organic-inorganichybrid hard-coat agent includes reactive silica particles to whichphotosensitive groups having a photopolymerizable property areintroduced at least on the surface and the reactive silica particles hasa mean particle diameter of 0.001-0.1 μm.

[0010] A transparent hard coat film of the present invention is alsocharacterized in that the transparent hard coat layer has a thickness of2-10 μm.

[0011] Further, a transparent hard coat film of the present invention ischaracterized in that the inorganic particles as a matting agent iscontained in an amount of not less than 2 parts by weight and not morethan 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the hard-coatagent.

[0012] Since the transparent hard coat film of the present inventionuses the organic-inorganic hybrid hard-coat agent and inorganicparticles of a particular particle diameter in combination for the hardcoat layer, anti-glare property can be improved without increase of hazeand deterioration of resolution, and high hard coat property can beattained.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The transparent hard coat film of the present invention now willbe explained in detail.

[0014] The transparent hard coat film of the present invention isprovided with a transparent hard coat layer at least one surface of atransparent polymer film.

[0015] As the transparent polymer film, any material can be used so faras it does not impair transparency, and there can be mentionedpolyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylenenaphthalate, polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes,polystyrenes, triacetyl cellulose, acrylic, and polyvinyl chloride.Among them, a polyethylene terephthalate film subjected to orienting, inparticular, biaxial orienting is preferred in view of superiority inmechanical strength and dimensional stability. It is also preferred touse the film having a surface subjected to corona discharge treatment orprovided with an easy adhesion layer to improve adhesion to thetransparent hard coat layer.

[0016] The thickness of such a transparent polymer film is suitablyselected depending on the material, but is generally 25-500 μm,preferably 50-200 μm.

[0017] The transparent hard coat layer that is formed on at least onesurface of the transparent polymer film will be explained next. Thetransparent hard coat layer consists of at least an ionizing radiationcurable organic-inorganic hybrid hard-coat agent (referred as “HbHCagent” hereinafter) and inorganic particles as a matting agent.

[0018] The HbHC agent is a material that is cured by irradiation ofionizing radiation and when it is made into a film, inorganicmicroparticles are uniformly dispersed in an organic binder. In a statethat the material is not cured, the organic binder may be chemicallybonded with the inorganic microparticles or inorganic microparticles maybe uniformly dispersed in an ionizing radiation curable organic binder.

[0019] As the inorganic microparticles, silica, particularly reactivesilica particles to which photosensitive groups having aphotopolymerizable property are introduced at least on the surface(sometimes referred as “reactive silica particles”) is preferred. Here,as the photopolymerizable photosensitive groups, polymerizableunsaturated groups such as (meth) acryloyl oxy groups can be mentioned.When such an HbHC agent containing reactive silica particles is used,the HbHC agent may further include compounds that can bephotopolymerized with the photopolymerizable photosensitive groupsintroduced into the surface of the reactive silica particles such asunsaturated organic compounds having polymerizable unsaturated groups.

[0020] An example of reactive silica particles that is suitably used forthe present invention will be explained. The reactive silica particleshave powder-like silica or colloidal silica as a body, which ischemically bonded through silyl oxy group with a compound having ahydrolyzable silyl group (A), a polymerizable unsaturated group (B), agroup (C) represented by the following formula (1) and a group (D)represented by the following formula (2) (referred as “polymerizableunsaturated group modified hydrolyzable silane” hereinafter).

[0021] That is, the hydrolyzable silyl group of the polymerizableunsaturated group modified hydrolyzable silane is hydrolyzed to form asilyl oxy group, which is chemically bonded between silica particles.

[0022] (In the formula, X is selected from NH, oxygen and sulfur, and Yis selected from oxygen and sulfur. However, if X is oxygen then Y issulfur).

[0023] Examples of the hydrolyzable siyl groups (A) include carboxylatesilyl group such as alcoxy silyl group and acetoxy silyl group,halogenated silyl group such as chlorosilyl group, amino silyl group,oxyme silyl group, hydride silyl group and the like.

[0024] Examples of the polymerizable unsaturated groups (B) includeacryloyl oxy group, methacryoyl oxy group, vinyl group, propenyl group,butadienyl group, styryl group, ethynyl group, cinnamoyl group, malategroup, and acrylic amide.

[0025] The reactive silica particles used in the present invention has amean particle diameter of preferably 0.001-0.1 μm, more preferably0.001-0.01 μm. Use of the reactive silica particles having such a rangeof the mean particle diameter in combination with a matting agentcomprising inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of 1-10μm, which will be explained later, can provide well-balanced opticalproperties of anti-glare property and resolution, and sufficient hardcoat property for a transparent hard coat layer.

[0026] Next, the unsaturated organic compound having polymerizableunsaturated groups, which may be included in the HbHC agent as anothercomponent, will be explained. Such a compound may be a polyvalentunsaturated organic compound having two or more of polymerizableunsaturated groups in one molecule or a monovalent unsaturated organiccompound having one polymerizable group in one molecule.

[0027] Examples of the polyvalent unsaturated organic compound includeethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate,glycerol di(meth)acrylate, glycerol tri(meth)acrylate, 1,4-buthane dioldi(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexane diol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycoldi(meth)acrylate, trimethylol propane tri(meth)acrylate, dicyclo pentandi(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritoltetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate,dipentaerythritol monohydroxy penta(meth)acrylate, ditrimethylol propanetetra(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polyethyleneglycol di(meth)acrylate, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate,polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate.

[0028] Examples of the monovalent unsaturated organic compounds includemethyl(meth)acrylate, ethyl(meth)acrylate, propyl (meth)acrylate,butyl(meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl(meth)acrylate, isodesyl(meth)acrylate,lauryl (meth)acrylate, stearyl(meth)acrylate, allyl(meth)acrylate,cyclohexyl(meth)acrylate, methyl cyclohexyl(meth)acrylate,isobornyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate, glycerol (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate,benzyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethoxyethyl(meth)acrylate,2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl(meth) acrylate, butoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl(meth)acrylate, methoxydiethyleneglycol(meth)acrylate, methoxy triethyleneglycol(meth)acrylate,methoxy polyethyleneglycol(meth)acrylate, 2-methoxy propyl(meth)acrylate, methoxy dipropyleneglycol(meth)acrylate, methoxytripropyleneglycol(meth)acrylate, methoxypolypropyleneglycol(meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol(meth)acrylate,polypropylene glycol(meth)acrylate.

[0029] The HbHC agent prepared by adding a diluting solvent to theaforementioned reactive silica particles and unsaturated organiccompound having polymerizable unsaturated groups to regulate the solidcontent may be used.

[0030] The inorganic particles used as a matting agent will beexplained.

[0031] Examples of the inorganic particles include silica, alumina,talc, clay, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium sulfate,aluminium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, and zirconium oxide. One or morekinds of them are used in combination. Among them, silica, particularlyporous silica is preferably used.

[0032] Regarding the size of the inorganic particles, those having amean particle diameter of 1-10 μm are used. According to the inventor'sstudy, when the inorganic particles of a mean particle diameter of thisrange are used as a matting agent in combination with the aforementionedHbHC agent, effect of the present invention, that is, a transparent hardcoat layer having well-balanced anti-glare property and resolution, andhard coat property can be obtained. In viewpoint of further improvingthese properties, the inorganic particles having a mean particlediameter of 2-8 μm are preferably used.

[0033] The content of the inorganic particles is not less than 2 partsby weight, preferably not less than 4 parts by weight, more preferably 6parts by weight, and not more than 20 parts by weight, preferably notmore than 18 parts by weight, more preferably not more than 16 parts byweight based on 100 parts by weight of the solid content of the HbHCagent. As previously mentioned, anti-glare property and resolution ofthe transparent hard coat film depend on not only the content of thematting agent but also the thickness of the layer. In the preferredrange of the thickness of the hard coating layer, which will beexplained later, the content of not less than 2 parts by weight canprovide sufficient anti-glare property and the content of not more than20 parts by weight can provide high resolution.

[0034] The transparent hard coat layer of the present invention mayoccasionally include components other than the HbHC agent and inorganicparticles such as thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, ionizingradiation curable resins, photopolymerization initiator.

[0035] Examples of the thermoplastic resins include cellulosederivatives such as acetyl cellulose, nitro cellulose, acetyl butylcellulose, ethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, vinyl resins such asvinyl acetate and copolymers thereof, vinyl chloride and copolymersthereof and vinylidene chloride and copolymers thereof, acetal resinssuch as polyvinyl formal and polyvinyl butylal, acrylic resins such asacrylic resin and the copolymer and methacrylic resin and the copolymerthereof, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, linear polyester resins,and polycarbonate resins.

[0036] Examples of the thermosetting resin include thermosettingurethane resins composed of acrylic polyol and isocyanate prepolymer,phenol resins, urea melamine resins, epoxy resins, unsaturated polyesterresins, silicone resins.

[0037] Usable resins for the ionizing radiation curable resin is anionizing radiation curable paint, which contains one or more kinds ofphotopolymerizable prepolymers or photopolymerizable monomers and can becured by ionizing radiation (ultraviolet beam or electron beam). Here,as the photopolymerizable prepolymer, acrylic prepolymers, which havetwo or more acryloyl groups in one molecule and gain a three dimensionalnetwork structure by curing with crosslinking, are particularlypreferably used. Examples of the acrylic prepolymers include urethaneacrylate, polyester acrylate, epoxy acrylate, melamine acrylate. As thephotopolymerizable monomers, the aforementioned polyvalent unsaturatedorganic compounds can be used.

[0038] Further, as the photopolymerization initiator can be usedacetophenone, benzophenone, Michler's ketone, benzoin, benzyl methylketal, benzoin benzoate, hydroxy cyclohexylphenyl ketone,2-methyl-1-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-2-(4-morpholinyl)-1-propane,α-acyloxime ester, thioxanthone and the like.

[0039] The thickness of the transparent hard coat layer of the presentinvention is 2-10 μm, preferably 3-8 μm. With the thickness of not lessthan 2 μm, sufficient hard coat property for the transparent hard coatfilm can be obtained. With the thickness of not more than 10 μm, opticalproperty balance of the transparent hard coat film can be easilyregulated and the transparent polymer film provided with transparenthard coat layer on one surface is kept from curling.

[0040] The transparent hard coat layer mentioned above can be formed bymixing the HbHC agent, inorganic particles and occasionally the othercomponents to prepare a paint which contains diluting solvent asdemanded, applying the paint onto the surface of the transparent polymerfilm using the conventional coating method and curing the paint byirradiation of ionizing radiation.

[0041] As the ionizing radiation, ultraviolet ray emitted from anextra-high pressure mercury lamp, high pressure mercury lamp, lowpressure mercury lamp, carbon arc, metal halide lamp or the like in awavelength region of 100-400 nm, preferably 200-400 nm, or electronbeams emitted from a scanning-type or curtain-type electron beamaccelerator in a wavelength region of 100 nm or shorter can be used.

EXAMPLES

[0042] Examples of the present invention will be explained hereinafter.In the following examples, “part” and “%” are used on a weight basisunless otherwise indicated.

Example 1

[0043] Coating solution (a) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 5 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (a) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having  100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Porous silica particles   5 Parts (Sylysia 446, averageparticle diameter 4.5 μm, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

Example 2

[0044] Coating solution (b) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 3 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (b) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having  100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Porous silica particles   4 Parts (Sylysia 446, averageparticle diameter 4.5 μm, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

Example 3

[0045] Coating solution (c) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 7 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (c) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having  100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Porous silica particles   6 Parts (Sylysia 446, averageparticle diameter 4.5 μm, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

Comparative Example 1

[0046] Coating solution (d) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 5 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (d) for transparent hard coat layer> Ionizing radiation curablepaint 62.5 Parts (UniDic 17-806, solid content 80%: Dainippon Ink &Chemicals. Inc.) Porous silica particles   5 Parts (Sylysia 446, averageparticle diameter 4.5 μm, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone 62.5 Parts Toluene   30 Parts

Comparative Example 2

[0047] Coating solution (e) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 10 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (e) for transparent hard coat layer> Ionizing radiation curablepaint 62.5 Parts (UniDic 17-806, solid content 80%: Dainippon Ink &Chemicals. Inc.) Porous silica particles   13 Parts (Sylysia 446,average particle diameter 4.5 μm, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone 62.5 Parts Toluene   30 Parts

Comparative Example 3

[0048] Coating solution (f) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 2 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (f) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having  100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Fine powder of silica   4 Parts (Aerosil 30, averageparticle diameter 50 nm, Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) Photopolymerizationinitiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba Specialty Chemicals K.K.)Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

Comparative Example 4

[0049] Coating solution (g) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 7 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (g) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having 100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Porous silica particles   5 Parts (Sylysia 476, averageparticle diameter 14.1 μm, Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

Comparative Example 5

[0050] Coating solution (h) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 5 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (h) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having  100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Acrylic resin particles   5 Parts (MX-500KS, averageparticle diameter 5 μm, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

Comparative Example 6

[0051] Coating solution (I) for transparent hard coat layer having thefollowing composition was applied to one surface of a polyethyleneterephthalate film (COSMOSHINE A4300: Toyobo Co., Ltd.) having athickness of 100 μm, dried for five minutes at 60° C., and wasirradiated with ultraviolet ray from a high pressure mercury lamp for1-2 seconds to form a transparent hard coat layer having a thickness ofabout 5 μm. Thus, a transparent hard coat film was produced. <Coatingsolution (I) for transparent hard coat layer> HbHC agent including atleast reactive silica particles having  100 Parts a mean particlediameter of 0.001-0.1 μm and unsaturated organic compound having apolymerizable unsaturated group (DESOLITE 7501, solid content 50%: JRSCorporation) Acrylic resin particles   3 Parts (MX-500KS, averageparticle diameter 5 μm, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.)Photopolymerization initiator  1.5 Parts (IRGACURE 651: Ciba SpecialtyChemicals K.K.) Methyl ethyl ketone   40 Parts Toluene   15 Parts

[0052] The thus obtained transparent hard coat films in Examples andComparative Examples were evaluated as follows with regard to anti-glareproperty, resolution, and hard coat property. The results are shown inTable 1.

[0053] [Anti-Glare Property]

[0054] Using a color computer UGV-5 (Suga Test Instrument Co., Ltd.),glossiness (%) at an incident/emitting angle of 60° was measured. Imagesdisplayed on CRT screen, to which the transparent hard coat film waslaminated, were observed and evaluated with regard to deterioration ofvisibility of images caused by reflection of exterior light. In theevaluation, “o” indicates that the observation result was good and “x”indicates that the observation result was bad.

[0055] [Resolution]

[0056] Using a color computer HGM-2K (Suga Test Instrument Co., Ltd.),haze (%) was measured. Glare of image displayed on a CRT screen, towhich the transparent hard coat film was laminated, was observed andevaluated. In the evaluation, “o” indicates that the observation resultwas good and “x” indicates that the observation result was bad.

[0057] [Hard Coat Property]

[0058] Using a Taber abrader (Yoshimitu Seiki), abrasion test wasconducted for the surface of the transparent hard coat layer of thetransparent hard coat film under conditions of truck wheel: CS-10, load:500 g, rotation speed: 700 rpm and 500 rotations, and an increase amountof haze after the abrasion test was measured and evaluated. In theevaluation, “o” indicates that the increase amount of haze was less than5%, “Δ” indicates that the increase amount of haze was not less than 5%and not more than 20%, and “x” indicates that the increase amount ofhaze exceed 20%. TABLE 1 Resin (parts) Particles (parts(diameter))Anti-glare property Resolution Hard coat HbHC UV curable silica particleresin particle (glossiness (%)) (haze (%)) property Example 1 50 5 ◯ ◯ ◯(4.5 μm) (69.5) (7.0) 2 50 5 ◯ ◯ ◯ (4.5 μm) (69.2) (7.1) 3 50 6 ◯ ◯ ◯(4.5 μm) (70.5) (7.0) Comparative 1 50 5 X ◯ X Example (4.5 μm) (125.4)(3.1) 2 50 13  ◯ X X (4.5 μm) (70.5) (11.7) 3 50 4 X ◯ ◯ (30 nm) (136.5)(2.0) 4 50 5 X ◯ ◯ (14.1 μm) (110.0) (5.2) 5 50 5 ◯ X Δ (5 μm) (40.5)(14.0) 6 50 3 X ◯ Δ (5 μm) (92.1) (7.0)

[0059] As will be understood from the results shown in Table 1, thetransparent hard coat film of Comparative Example 1, which was preparedusing the coating solution (d) containing an ionizing radiation curablepaint instead of the HbHC agent of the coating solution (a) of Example1, exhibited inferior anti-glare property whereas it had goodresolution. Hard coat property of the transparent hard coat layer wasalso inferior.

[0060] The transparent hard coat film of Comparative Example 2, whichwas prepared using an ionizing radiation curable paint other than theHbHC agent similarly to Comparative Example 1 and was added with silicaparticles to the extent that anti-glare property became good, exhibitedin sufficient resolution. Hard coat property was also bad similarly toComparative Example 1.

[0061] The transparent hard coat film of Comparative Example 3, whichused inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter of less than1μm (30 nm), and the transparent hard coat film of Comparative Example4, which used inorganic particles having a mean particle diameter ofmore than 10 μm (14.1 μm), both exhibited very low anti-glare propertywhile resolution was not bad in both case.

[0062] In Comparative Examples 5 and 6 which used acrylic resinparticles as a matting agent instead of inorganic particles, when thecontent of the acrylic resin particles are the same as that in Example(Comparative Example 5), resolution was bad whereas anti-glare propertywas not bad. When the content of the acrylic resin particles was reducedsuch an extent that the resolution became not bad (Comparative Example6), anti-glare property became deteriorated. Further, hard coat propertyof the transparent hard coat layers of both of Comparative Examples 5and 6 were worse than that of Examples using inorganic particles as amatting agent.

[0063] On the other hand, the transparent hard coat films of Examples1-3 were excellent in anti-glare property and resolution, and had asufficient hard coat property. These results showed that a transparenthard coat film having a good hard coat property and well-balancedanti-glare property and resolution can be obtained by using the HbHCagent and inorganic particles of a particular mean particle diameter incombination for the transparent hard coat layer.

1. A transparent hard coat film comprising a transparent polymer filmand a transparent hard coat layer formed on at least one surface of thetransparent polymer film, wherein the transparent hard coat layer iscomposed of at least an ionizing radiation curable organic-inorganichybrid hard-coat agent and inorganic particles having a mean particlediameter of 1-10 μm.
 2. The transparent hard coat film according toclaim 1, wherein the ionizing radiation curable organic-inorganic hybridhard-coat agent includes reactive silica particles to which aphotosensitive group having a photopolymerizable property is introducedat least on the surface, and the reactive silica particles have a meanparticle diameter of 0.001-0.1 μm.
 3. The transparent hard coat filmaccording to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the transparent hard coat layerhas a thickness of 2-10 μm.
 4. The transparent hard coat film accordingto anyone of claims 1-3, wherein the transparent hard coat layercontains the inorganic particles in an amount of not less than 2 partsby weight and not more than 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts byweight of the hard-coat agent.